Canada is working on changing the way Express Entry candidates are selected during the beginning of 2023 and possibly beyond.
Beginning in 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is expected to use new authority to hold express Entry draws to invite applicants by specific characteristics rather than their CRS score.
The anticipated modifications in Express Entry were made possible through Bill C-19, which was granted Royal Assent and was passed by both houses of the parliament on the 23rd of June. In the Bill, immigration ministers can invite applicants with the necessary qualifications or capabilities.
The minister stated that although Express Entry already gives Canada an advantage in the market, there is still room to improve.
“Where the Express Entry system] could be improved at the moment is in the event of specific issues that your country’s economy could be facing shortly. We’re not able to modify the invitations we send out to be submitted to an Express Entry system to meet the requirements for those skills or qualifications that are in demand,” Fraser said.
IRCC declares that the Bill will permit Canada to accept Express Entry candidates on a new basis which would help achieve the economic goals set by the minister.
What will the guest list include?
There needs to be a confirmation of when applicants will be given to submit (ITAs) in specific draws. Minister said he would consult with provincial business councils, provincial governments, and other stakeholders to decide which candidates to pursue.
The minister’s new authority implies that it will be possible for the government to accept Express Entry applicants based on the most pressing needs of the economy and urgent labor shortages.
Healthcare, for instance, is regarded as among the top urgent job categories. As of October 2018, the unemployment rate in this sector was 6 percent. The government has taken steps to fill the vacancies in the field by removing some hurdles for doctors with international training who already reside working in Canada and the newly announced foreign Credential Recognition Programme. The future Express Entry may target those with backgrounds in healthcare professions, allowing them to fill vacant positions more quickly.
Why is the system evolving?
Canada is facing a labor shortage due to an aging population and a low birth rate. It is anticipated that 9 million Canadians will be at the pension age of 65 in 2030. There need to be more older Canadians to fill their jobs and create a massive number of jobs that will be hard to fill. Canada depends on immigration to sustain its workforce and keep its economic growth strong.
To maintain and expand the workforce to ensure the continued growth of the force, the plan for immigration levels 2023-2025 is aimed at appointing up to 500,000 permanent residents annually by 2025. More than 110,000 will be accepted through Express Entry programs.
What is the process behind Express Entry work?
Express Entry is an Express Entry application management system designed to speed up the process for skilled workers applying under three programs for economic immigration that include three of them are the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) as well as the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Since the Express Entry application management system began to take effect in January 2015, applicants have been chosen to be awarded ITAs solely based on their scores in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
In the CRS, applicants are evaluated on various aspects like the amount of experience they have, their education level, language proficiency, and other factors that affect human capital, such as age or whether they have relatives in Canada. Each aspect is given points, and those with the highest number of points overall are those with the highest scores on CRS and therefore are more likely to be awarded an ITA during the express entry draw.
With targeted draws, IRCC would require applicants to meet the eligibility criteria to be eligible for an express Entry program. However, a person’s CRS score wouldn’t be the sole determining factor for being granted an ITA. The draw could be tailored for candidates with specific work experience, educational background, or capabilities.
